144 DAVENPORT ACADKMV OF NATURAL SCIENC1 5. 



Genus PEUCffiA Audubon. 

 [B 370. part, R 22(> a, C 252 U, 575 a.] 



Peucaa aestivalis bachmanii (And.). Bachman's Sparrow. This 

 species is entered here upon the following data: On the 2d of June, 

 1884. Mr. J. B. Green, of Des Moines, while collecting, several miles 

 east of the city, passed through several fields in search of the eggs of 

 the yellow-winged sparrow, and other ground-nesting species which 

 were known to breed there. Mr. Green says : " I had passed through 

 a corn-field and had just entered a field of clover, when I started from 

 nearly under my feet, a sparrow somewhat larger than a yellow-winged, 

 but not having my gun with me, I was unable to secure it. After a 

 brief search I discovered a nest containing five white eggs, which being 

 without markings, I knew did not belong to a Coturniculus; but not 

 wishing to take the eggs without, at least, a good look at the bird, I 

 continued hunting for other nests, while awaiting its return to the nest. 

 After a time I returned, with more caution than before, and again 

 flushed the bird, but this time I succeeded in noting more carefully its 

 appearance, which, on arriving home, and taking into consideration the 

 eggs, corresponded with Peucaa aestivalis bachmanii. The nest was 

 placed in a slight depression at the base of a tuft of clover, and was 

 composed of dry grasses, lined with finer materials and a few hairs." 



Two of the eggs were sent to Professor J. A. Allen for further iden- 

 tification. Mr. Allen replied : 



"I have compared the eggs with those of Peuccea aestivalis, P. cas- 

 sini, and P. carpalis, and with those other species laying white, or 

 whitish eggs. Taking into account the situation of the nest — on the 

 ground — and the geographical distribution of the other species of 

 Peucaa, and the few other species of finch which lay white eggs, I 

 should say that your conclusions that these eggs are those of P. cesti- 

 valis bachmanii is highly probable — in fact, almost beyond question. 

 I find, however, that the eggs sent are absolutely indistinguishable from 

 those of P. carpalis, to which, of course, for geographical reasons, they 

 cannot belong; and they are also indistinguishable from eggs of Poospiza 

 ( Amphispiza ) belli, which is a species likewise out of the question, for 

 geographical reasons. The eggs of P. aestivalis are a little larger, and 

 a purer, glossy white, as are also those of P. cassini, differing from the 

 eggs of both of these species quite markedly in both of these particu- 

 lars. Your eggs have a slight bluish cast, and in this respect, and in 

 size, also similar to the eggs of Cyanospiza cyanea. Had not the nest 

 been placed on the ground, I should have said that they were eggs of 

 this species. If P. cestivalis bachmanii occurs with you, it would 



